Safe and Stylish Homes for Students

For our parents and their parents, accommodation near the university meant a dormitory, a building with its warren of rooms where they had to live with strangers and share the kitchen, dining area and bathroom with them. Because of cramped living conditions, little or no privacy was maintained. A modicum of security was offered by a guard; a round-the-clock CCTV surveillance was rare if not downright non-existent.

Students of today have far better choices and more flexibility in choosing their second home as they embark on their university life. Vista Residences, a company under Vista Land & Lifescapes which has been providing quality homes for the Filipino family since 1977, positions itself as the foremost real estate developer that caters to the student market. Currently, it is building three projects near the top universities in the country: 878 España (University of Santo Tomas), Vista Residences Taft (De La Salle University) and Vista Residences Katipunan (Ateneo de Manila University and University of the Philippines).

“Because of their stature, these universities attract students from all over the country who would need accommodations that are comfortable, safe and inspire a sense of confidence in them each time they go to the university of choice,” says Beth Kalaw, Vista Residences HRB Division Head. As a parent myself, I would make sure these needs are met. Vista Residences provides not only accommodation but security and amenities that would make the student’s stay memorable.”

Strategically located to be either across or beside a university, the 37-story 878 España, the 39-story Vista Residence Taft and the 30-story Vista Residence Katipunan offer a level of safety and convenience that are unheard-of. Since one’s residence and school is within walking distance of each other, tremendous risk that comes from commuting and public exposure is greatly minimized. The buildings themselves provide topnotch security through 24/7 CCTV monitoring and fire protection equipment that include automatic heat and smoke detectors, sprinkler system and stairwell fire exits. Security personnel meticulously monitor who get in and out of the condominium.

To make a student’s stay in the building becomes more exciting and productive, each tower offers a study lounge, a perfect, quiet place to write that term paper; a set of multi-purpose halls where one can brainstorm projects with classmates; and a swimming pool and a fitness center that will keep the residents in tiptop shape. Serviced by high-speed elevators, the buildings have sky decks that will allow occupants to have a 360-degree view of the metropolis.

“In addition to these amenities, we envision our projects to be a self-contained environment,” says Kalaw. “Residents need not venture outside of the building for their everyday needs and supplies as we have allocated the ground floor for a laundromat, a cafe, a convenience store, a fast food joint, among others.”

Students who would need to visit a full-scale retail hub once in a while need not worry as these projects are near a wide selection of malls and establishments. 878 España is near SM San Lazaro, and the retail spaces and restaurants in Morayta and Recto Ave.; Vista Residences Taft is a few minutes away from Robinson’s Place, Harrison Plaza and Mall of Asia; while Vista Residence Katipunan boasts of proximity to malls in Araneta Center and Eastwood in Libis.

“From a practical point of view, living in a Vista Residence projects mean that the travel time is greatly minimized, if not totally eliminated, during the commute to and from the school,” says Kalaw. “There is no more need to use a car and waste gas. By freeing a large chunk of time, one can devote more hours on studying or doing extra-curricular activities.”

Investment-wise, these developments offer parents the chance to profit from the space as soon as their son or daughter graduates by leasing or selling their unit. It also solves the problem of providing accommodation to another child who is yet to enter college. Since there is always a high demand for accommodations near schools, with a yearly turnover of students, investors can always look count on fresh batch of lodgers.

“In providing the best for their child in terms of education and accommodation, parents are making a sensible choice,” says Kalaw. “The moment their child graduates and takes on a job, their investment in education will start reaping rewards, so is the condo unit whose value will increase through the years. It is always at a ready for another student who, just like their child, is willing to take the challenge of school in order to step into a bright future.”

Roxaco Develops Relaxation Capital in Tagaytay City

Real estate developer Roxaco is offering investors a stake in what is expected to be the relaxation capital of Tagaytay City: Anya Resorts and Residences. Anya features luxurious, international-quality accommodations of Anya along with the personalized service. It is an exclusive, serene and secluded 5.7 hectare hideaway in Tagaytay surrounded by verdant spaces of greenery and flowers. 

Health in luxury

The world-class amenities of Anya Resorts and Residences draw in local and foreign holiday-makers and those looking for a second home in Tagaytay. Anya is not only a lovely place to stay but also a place to enjoy a relaxing, health-giving wellness experience. This bodes well for investors who expect a more than satisfactory, consistent return on their investment.

“An investment in Anya provides returns that go beyond simply financial. To invest in Anya is to invest in better health and improved quality of life. Visitors, investors and  homeowners will experience holistic treatments and services that result in relaxation, stress-relief, renewed vigor and a stronger immune system. Anya combines these treatments with healthy and delicious food, as well as much-needed solitude to better benefit from nature’s beauty and healing power,” said Andrew Sparrow, Project Head of Anya.

Securitized asset

Anya offers investors choices from several types of units including 1) Guest Room/Studio; 2) One-Bed Suite/Residential; and 3) Two-bed Presidential/Residential.

To ensure that room revenue remains at peak level to benefit investors, Anya has forged in partnerships with leading brands, distribution channels, and marketing. Anya is also a securitized asset so it also has ongoing capital appreciation because it is a securitized asset. Current projections place cash yields at 8 percent per year based on the purchased asset price.

Health in luxury

Anya’s luxurious amenities include The Residents' Pavilion, a private complex exclusive to residents; it is perched atop the resort’s highest point and provides an excellent view of Anya’s amenities. There are three swimming pools including the exclusive Residents’ Pool, The Resort Pool which is open to visitors, and the Concierge Pool which is also exclusive for residents and provides a butler service plus massage treatments.

Anya’s resort and residential areas have pocket gardens, streams, and brooks, and pathways of stone and wood. There are areas for yoga, meditation, and other healthy activities.  There’s a spa, a gym, separate pools for guests and residents, the Living Room, and a Borderless Library (where they can get a book or e-reader to read anywhere in the resort premises).

All of Anya’s dining establishments serve healthy, international cuisine: Café Amra and Lounge; Pizzeria Anila; and Samara Terrace Restaurant.  Foods served are gourmet fare meant to  provide a healthy diet,  courtesy of resident chef Carlo Miguel. Guests and residents may order food to be brought to the Living Room, the Residents’ Pavilion, or their residential units.

All of these amenities are made even more special by the warm, friendly,  caring service by Anya’s Filipino staff. Filipinos are the most sought-after professionals in the global service industry and time spent at Anya will show visitors and residents why this is so. Only Filipinos can provide the highest-level of personalized, signature service that Anya offers.

For inquiries about Anya, its amenities, and investment opportunities, please call 09178882692 or email ask@anyaresidences.com. Information is also available at Anya’s website, www.anyaresort.com.

Pontefino Hotel & Residences, The Home of the Azkals in Batangas City‏

Pontefino Hotel & Residences in Batangas City recently inked a landmark partnership with the country’s national football team, the Azkals at the Café 1771 in El Pueblo Ortigas.

 

The Philippine Azkals have won the hearts thousands of Filipinos and marked the beginning of the country’s fascination for football —no mean feat in a country devoted to basketball. While very little was expected of the team, they have defied all expectations by winning match after match after more established teams and clubs abroad.

 

The team officially makes its Batangas home at the Pontefino Hotel, an upscale 60-room accommodation. The hotel is the centerpiece of Pontefino Hotel & Residences, a complete lifestyle community. Apart from providing lodging and hospitality to the team, Pontefino Hotel & Residences will also provide a venue for future activities and efforts undertaken by the team to raise awareness and funds for training and participation in competitions and tournaments around the world.

 

The Pontefino Residences and Pontefino Prime are exclusive residential developments surrounding Hotel Pontefino. Located in the frontier of progress for secured value, growth and high returns, no other residential development in the area comes close in offering such location and accessibility.

 

The partnership between the country’s flag-carrying football team and the premier lifestyle and residential development in Batangas coincides with the launch of the latter’s newest offering, the Terraces at Pontefino. As the ultimate expression of the Pontefino lifestyle, the Terraces feature exclusive, lofts and apartments in a private cluster surrounding a private courtyard. As with buyers of other Pontefino projects, residents have the option to reside in the units or lease them to the hotel through a unique leaseback scheme that earns a monthly revenue for the unit owners.

Shown in photo from left to right (standing) are Azkals players: Misagh Bahadoran, Marwin Angeles, Jeffrey Cristiaens, and Marvin Angeles

Seated from left to right: Azkals Team Coordinator Patrick Ace Bright, Team Manager Dan Palami, Pontefino Hotel & Residences President and Chief Executive Officer Ricky Gutierrez, and SVP & Chief Operating Officer Fely T. Ramos

Pontefino Hotel and Residences is located at Gulod Labac, Batangas City and is accessible by the STAR Toll Expressway. For more information, visit www.pontefinohotel.com orwww.pontefinoresidences.com.

Vista Residences: Homes that Stand Out

A home has long been considered a social marker, signifying both the achievement and aspiration of its owner. It exemplifies his taste, style and the things that he considers important in his life. Its location, whether in a mid-range subdivision or an exclusive village, also shapes on how we view—and value—the home.

Now, as more and more people choose to live in high-rise residences, we now judge a unit on its developer, the actual structure and its location. These three things also help inform the prospective unit owner on his selection. More often than not, these things seldom intersect. A well-known developer, for instance, may not always produce an eye-catching project or perhaps the structure, designed by an award-winning architect, suffers from a not-so-good location.

 “At Vista Residences, all these considerations come together,” says Beth Kalaw, Vista Residences HRB Division Head. “First, as a subsidiary of Vista Land, we have proven our track record in developing and turning over communities in record time. We have a very personalized relationship with our homeowners, which proves that our commitment goes beyond home building. Second, we only tap architecture and construction firms which are known to deliver topnotch service. This is why our buildings are well-built and well-designed. Third, we only locate our developments in choice real estate sites, be it in a central business district or near interesting natural landmarks.”

With all these three considerations positively addressed, it’s no surprise that people are choosing to live in the many developments of Vista Residences that are located in Metro Manila and outside it. They are those who want to separate themselves from the pack and won’t settle for a cookie-cutter building. They either want to upgrade their lifestyle or maintain it by surrounding themselves with a variety of retail, dining and leisure options. And yet, they are sensible people who know their money’s worth and spot a good project when they see one. These are the people who want to stand out.

“Some of our clients have actually grown in our subdivisions we have built in the ‘70s and ‘80s,” Emma Amores, Corporate Communications Head. “Now, that they are working and saving up for their own home, they choose to remain loyal to the brand by investing on a Vista Residences unit. They carry the associations of the home of their early years to the one that they will soon occupy.”

It also helps that the building itself signals the homeowner’s discriminating taste. Every Vista Residence tower is meant to become an architectural landmark, a structure that it is easy to spot for its modern lines, expressive details and evocative silhouette. To achieve this end, the company has worked with a roster of some of the best architects in the country that includes Arc. Felino Palafox, Arc. William Coscolluela and Arc. Carmelo Casas. This assures that no two Vista Residences look the same.

For instance, the buildings designed by Coscolluela, the Mosaic and KL Mosaic Towers in Makati City, are hexagonal in shape for a restrained, classical identity while The Currency, located in Ortigas, is expressive with its two-wing structure. Although both located in Quezon City and designed by the same international architectural firm called RTKL, The Symphony Towers and Wil Tower have their unique characters. While The Symphony Towers look soft and elegant with their glass-clad buildings, Wil Tower is all glitzy and glam with its four-story podium of commercial spaces.

Aside from design, every Vista Residence has a list of amenities that are tailor-fitted to the lifestyle of homeowners. Mosaic and KL Towers have their own coffee shops that take on the full view of the nearby parks; the trio of university towers, 878 España, Vista Residence Taft and Vista Residence Katipunan, all have study areas and halls for brainstorming sessions; while Wil Tower has its own day-care center. These are on top of the more-than-basic amenities that include a pool, a fitness center and function rooms.

In addition, a Vista Residence unit owner stands out because of the location of the development, usually in prime real estate or the “center of the center” of the urban jungle. The company has projects in all three central business districts: The Currency (Ortigas); The Gallery, Mosaic Tower and KL Mosaic (Makati) and Avant at the Fort (Bonifacio Global City). Residents, aside from taking advantage of all the shopping, dining and leisure options in the vicinity of these pulsating hubs, can simply walk toward their offices.

Students can now have the bragging rights to say that their university is just next door with projects that are just across or beside major institutions of learning:  878 España (University of Santo Tomas), Vista Residence Taft (De La Salle University and Vista Residence Katipunan (Ateneo de Manila University).

Those who want to be far from it all—but still have direct access to major commercial centers—will find respite and relaxation with Pine Crest in New Manila (a little Baguio in the metropolis) and The Presidio in Sucat, Parañaque,  a resort-like development which has the Laguna de Bay for scenery. They are usually selected by those who are building their own family.

“Indeed, we offer the best in brand, project and location,” says Kalaw. “We offer the end users the chance to live in the best possible environment—beautiful, centralized, pride-inducing—but with a sensible price tag.”

“LUXURY RESIDENTIAL, WELLNESS HAVEN IS IDEAL CHOICE FOR INVESTMENT OR VACATION HOME IN TAGAYTAY”

With seemingly so many property choices for a vacation home in Tagaytay, it can be overwhelming to make decision on where to invest one’s hard-earned money. The best way to decide is to step back and focus on your goals for investing:

Are you looking for a very private, secure, and relaxing vacation home? Do you seek a place that helps you find wellness and good health? How about a home that provides the pampering and luxury you deserve after all the hard work you do all week—plus the ability to maximize your returns?

If all of that sounds good to you, then there’s really no other place in Tagaytay that fits the bill except Anya Resort and Residences. It is a harmonious blend of luxurious amenities, world-class service, wellness opportunities, and the best value and return for your investment.

Anya’s 5.7 hectare property is nested in a secluded portion of Tagaytay located along Buena Vista Hills Road, in  Barangay  Mag-asawang  Ilat, Tagaytay City. The beautiful and relaxing ambiance of landscaped green spaces provide a refreshing setting for the various amenities—all designed for wellness, rejuvenation, and pampering. It is open to visiting guests and vacationers, as well as to investors who wish to purchase their own residential units.

True health and wellness is integral to Anya’s commitment to visitors and homeowners. Wellness is about enjoying life to the fullest, free of stress and disease, with enough energy, and the resilience of face life’s challenges and bask in successes great or small.

Achieving true wellness at Anya is the result of both its environment and the healthy lifestyle that its guests and residents enjoy. Wellness treatments like massages, facials, body scrubs and others soothe away stress and stimulate the body’s natural defenses.

The total Anya experience combines these treatments with healthy and delicious cuisine, and the solitude amid nature’s power to renew and rejuvenate mind, body, and soul. 

“Health experts have been telling us that a stressful lifestyle contributes to or even causes most of our illnesses. This is what makes Anya a great opportunity not only to enjoy world-class amenities but also the chance to live healthy and well, and improve quality of life through our holistic treatments and the healthy lifestyle we provide,” said Santiago Elizalde, Senior Vice President of Roxaco Land Corporation.

Wellness amenities

Anya’s master-planned design is shaped to cooperate with to its location’s natural terrain, in order to make the property environmentally friendly. The resort and residential areas are surrounded by pocket gardens, streams, and brooks, and pathways of stone and wood. There are areas meant for yoga, meditation, and other healthy activities.  There’s a spa, a gym, separate pools for guests and residents, the Living Room, and a Borderless Library.

With the Borderless Library guests and residents take a book or an e-reader and bring these anywhere in the property to enjoy some quiet time with enjoying literature and get comfy while expanding their minds.

Three dining areas will provide healthy, international cuisine: Café Amra and Lounge; Pizzeria Anila; and Samara Terrace Restaurant.  These foods are not just gourmet dishes but healthy feasts as well, courtesy of resident chef Carlo Miguel. Guests and residents may also order food to be brought to the Living Room, the Residents’ Pavilion, or their residential units.

The vegetables used in Anya’s dishes are grown at the property itself using all-natural, organic methods to preserve on only the tasty, crisp freshness of the ingredients but all to retain their health-giving nutrients.

Pampering

Anya residents will receive exclusive pampering at The Residents' Pavilion, a private complex only they are privileged to enjoy. The Residents’ Pavilion is .perched atop the resort’s highest point and provides an excellent view of Anya’s amenities. The exclusive Residents’ Pool provides a chance to relax by the water’s edge while enjoying a snack and a refreshing drink, reading a book, or surfing the Internet. At the Residents’ Pavilion, sunny days, dawns, and dusks become magical moments with family members.

Two other swimming pools are also at the resort. The Resort Pool is located right in the middle of Anya’s various amenities and activity areas. The young ones, especially, will enjoy a fun time at the pool while in close proximity to food and beverage service. The Concierge Pool, on the other hand, is another private area where residents can be pampered with a butler service and a relaxing massage from on-duty masseuses.

The pampering of residents is only possible through the warm, all-encompassing and detailed service given to guests, residents, and investors. It is a unique brand of service that is truly Filipino—and Filipinos are known all over the world for their friendliness, cheerful, and caring attitude at they attend to customers’ needs. . Filipinos are practically the backbone of the global hospitality industry. This is the personalized, signature service at Anya that goes above and beyond.

Investments

The luxurious, international-quality accommodations of Anya along with the personalized service provided make it the ideal investment. Investors may choose from several types of units including 1) Guest Room/Studio; 2) One-Bed Suite/Residential; and 3) Two-bed Presidential/Residential.

Anya is in partnership with leading brands, distribution channels, and marketing firms to assure investors that room revenue remains at peak level. Anya is also a securitized asset so it has ongoing capital appreciation. So far current projections place cash yields at 8 percent per year based on the purchased asset price. 

Vista Residences: Structures of Style and Substance

As the condominium boom shows no sign of abating, an alarming trend is becoming noticeable: some of the high-rise towers being built are starting to look the same. Perhaps, the real estate company has either consciously chosen to only have one look across their developments or they tap the same architectural group, whether in-house or not. The downside to this practice is that the buildings become boring and interchangeable, pulling no element of surprise. You see one and you see all.

For Vista Residences, part of Vista Land & Lifescapes which is acknowledged as the biggest homebuilder in the country, part of the solution to break this monotony is to collaborate with a variety of architectural firms who have produced beautiful, breathtaking structures in the past. “We don’t subscribe to one specific look when it comes to our buildings,” says Beth Kalaw, Vista Residences HRB Division Head. “We avoid that by working with architects who have different design philosophy. We allow them to express their strengths. This is the reason why we don’t have  developments that look exactly the same.”

Some of the “starchitects” that Vista Residences has tapped through the years include Arc. William Coscolluela of WV Cosculluela & Associates for the Mosaic and KL Mosaic Towers, Felino Palafox of Palafox and Associates for Trevi Towers and Arc. Carmelo Casas of Casas + Architects for The Gallery. All three buildings are located within or near the Makati Central Business District.

For the Mosaic and KL Mosaic Towers, Coscolluela designed the structures in a hexagonal form to give them a classic and contemporary look. Working with the tenets of green architecture, Palafox oriented the structures of Trevi Towers in such a way that they can harness the full potential of the wind to encourage natural ventilation. Casas, on the other hand, envisioned The Gallery as a collection of clean, modern lines.

In its other developments such as The Currency (Ortigas CBD), Wil Tower and Symphony Towers (Quezon City), Vista Residences tapped the US-based, international architectural firm RTKL whose local partner is Arch Haus Asia Consultants. They may have been designed by the same group by their looks can not be more different. The Currency is a single-tower expressed as two wings, the Wil Tower projects its mixed-use identity with its podium of retail spaces, while Symphony Towers shimmers like emerald, mirroring the fluidity and hue of the fountains in the courtyard shared by its two buildings.

Aside from high-rise residences, Vista Land has also created sumptuous communities composed of mid-rise condominiums amid wide, open spaces. These include the six-tower development Brescia Residences in Fairview, Quezon City which evokes the style of an Italian villa; Pine Crest in New Manila, whose three towers sit on 8,000 square meters, large areas of which are strewn with pine trees; and The Presidio in Sucat, Parañaque whose 16 mid-rise condo buildings, located in 6.8-hectare development, are designed to take in a view of Laguna de Bay, an environmentally protected site.

Backed by more than 30 years of experience of its parent company Vista Land, Vista Residences makes sure that all the developments follow building and environmental codes to the letter, respect the historical attributes of the site and take consideration of the surrounding communities. “We can proudly claim that we don’t cut corners in our developments,” Kalaw, “We only work with the trusted names in the construction industry. We always emphasize that speed should never be a reason to compromise the safety and the integrity of a building.”

An example that Vista Residences doesn’t just build indiscriminately is 515 Shaw, a two-tower heritage-oriented project located in the corner of Laurel Street and Shaw Boulevard in Mandaluyong City. The design and construction team took every step to assure that the home of the late President Jose P. Laurel would be safely and beautifully integrated in the building’s overall structure.

Another step the company is taking in its construction practice is toward green architecture. As mentioned, Vista Residences has turned Trevi Towers as a generator of wind for natural ventilation. Its project at Bonifacio Global City in Taguig City, Avant at the Fort, has been designed to embody green architecture through and through.

Benefiting from the shade of nearby structures, Avant at The Fort allows ambient light, but not heat, to filter through the star-rated glass, minimizing the use of energy. Its design, just like Trevi Towers, also allows for cross ventilation to pervade through hallways and units. Its ground level is framed by an espalier that allows for the integration plant life while shaded swimming pool and private massage coves are surrounded by greenery.

“Starting from the blueprint, we make sure that a building has its unique architectural identity that will make stand out from the rest,” says Kalaw. “What remains consistent is the way we devote every necessary solution and step to make it well-built. Yes, our buildings are stylish but its style rests upon a safe, solid foundation.”